Noise-canceling headphones have become essential gear for commuters and travelers who need to block out the world and focus on what matters. Sony just quietly liquidated XM4 inventory on Amazon, dropping the price to $198 from the usual $348, and the timing is interesting because both the XM5 and XM6 are on the market at nearly three times this price.
Here’s the thing though: the technological improvements between these new generations are minimal and most users can’t tell the difference in real-world use. The XM4 delivers the same exceptional active noise cancellation, 30-hour battery life, multipoint connection, and premium sound quality that made Sony the leader in this category. Amazon has already moved over 10,000 units at this all-time low price, and it’s easy to see why.
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Industry-Leading Noise Cancelation
The core feature that made the XM4 legendary is Sony’s Dual Noise Sensor technology which uses microphones on both the outside and inside of each earcup to capture ambient sound. The HD Noise Canceling Processor QN1 analyzes this audio data over 700 times per second and generates inverse sound waves that cancel out unwanted noise. This isn’t passive isolation from thick padding, though the earcups do provide physical noise blocking too: This is active electronic cancellation that targets low-frequency rumble like airplane engines, train noise and air conditioning systems.
The noise cancellation levels on the Sony can now be adjusted by an additional 20 levels through an app, and gives you complete control over how much of the environment you can shut out. The ambient sound mode reverses this by letting ambient sound come in through the headphones, which can be useful if you need announcements in an airport or traffic direction if you’re on foot. Again, there are 20 levels of adjustment there. The Quick Attention mode can be activated by resting your hand on top of the right cup which will instantly give you ambient sound while reducing the volume of your music.
The battery life reaches an impressive 30 hours of non-stop use with active noise cancellation, which will take you through not one but multiple cross-country flights or an entire week of commuting. The quick charging function is a lifesaver if you remember too late that you need to plug them in before bed. Charging via USB-C will give you an additional 5 hours of use after just 10 minutes of charging. Charging from empty will take a mere 3 hours.
The touch controls on the right side of the headband allow all of your playback and calling controls right at your fingertips. Simply swipe up or down to change the volume, swipe forward or backward to skip tracks, tap once to play or pause playback, or tap twice to answer or hang up a phone call. The touch controls take a little getting used to if you’re accustomed to physical buttons, but after a day of using them, they become second nature. The voice assistant compatibility comes with both Alexa and Google Assistant which can be accessed by either giving it the wake-up phrase or by pressing and holding the touch panel.
Wear detection uses a proximity sensor on the left ear cup that automatically pauses audio playback when you take off the headphones and resumes playback when you put them on. This conserves battery life as well as ensures that you do not miss anything in your podcast or audiobook. The XM4 headphones come with multipoint technology that allows you to pair two different devices simultaneously. For instance, you can be connected to your laptop as well as your smartphone. The audio automatically switches from one device to another according to which is in use.
At $198, you’re paying less than many mid-tier noise-canceling headphones while getting performance that rivals anything on the market today, regardless of price.
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